Special event monitor is a person who has completed a traffic
control program approved by the California Highway Patrol in
accordance with the provisions of Section 12200 of the California
Vehicle Code.

Special event is an organized procession or assemblage of
people on a county highway which would impact vehicular traffic
or create a safety problem. Examples of special events include
but are not limited to walkathons, runs, marathons, trail rides,
bicycle races, fairs, celebrations, parades and other similar
activities. Bicycle events for which participants are required to
comply with the provisions of the California Vehicle Code
applicable to persons riding a bicycle upon a highway are not
special events for the purposes of the ordinance codified in this
article.

Sec. 15-25. Permit requirements.

No special event shall take place on Sonoma County highways
which involve more than fifty (50) participants, unless the
sponsoring persons, corporations, city, club, organization,
association, etc. has applied for and been issued a special event
permit pursuant to this article.

The county's purpose for requiring permits to be obtained is
to ensure the safety of both the special event's participants and
vehicular traffic.

Sec. 15-26. Permit issuance.

The director may issue a written permit for an applicant to
hold a special event. Once the application has been filed, the
permit will be either approved, conditionally approved or denied
within ten (10) working days. A permit which is not acted upon
within ten (10) working days shall be considered approved.

Any person desiring to conduct a special event shall file an
application for a permit not less than thirty (30) days nor more
than one (1) year before the date on which such special event is
proposed to be conducted.

Upon a showing by applicant of good cause, the director may
consider an application which is filed less than thirty (30) days
before the date such event is proposed to be conducted, provided
that there shall be no appeal from the director's determination.

Compliance with article and terms of permit: Any special event
allowed under the authority of a permit issued pursuant to this
ordinance shall be conducted in accordance with the terms and
conditions shown on the permit.

Sec. 15-27. Revocation of permit.

The director reserves the right to cancel, postpone or
terminate a special event at any time if, in the opinion of the
director, weather or any other conditions are present which may
significantly affect the safety of event participants and/or
vehicular traffic, or if the applicant violates any condition of
the permit.

Sec. 15-28. Violation of permit ordinance.

Except as otherwise provided in Division 17, Offenses and
Prosecution, Paragraph 40000.1 of the California Vehicle Code, it
is unlawful and constitutes an infraction for any person to
violate or fail to comply with the provisions of this article.

Sec. 15-29. Fees for the issuance of special event
permits.

The board of supervisors reserves the right to establish fees
to recover costs.

Sec. 15-30. Supervision of special event activities.

The director shall not supervise any of the activities
conducted under the authority of a permit. Supervision of the
activities which result from the permit having been issued is
entirely the responsibility of the permittee.

The permittee, sponsoring organization, or its representatives
will be required to provide the name of at least one person from
the organization who is responsible for special event monitors
whenever special event monitors are required as a condition of
the special event permit.

Sec. 15-31. Indemnification of county of Sonoma.

Before issuing a permit pursuant to the ordinance codified in
this article, the director shah require each applicant to file
with the director a statement in which permittee agrees to
indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the county of Sonoma, the
board of supervisors of the county of Sonoma, its agents, and
employees from any and all liability actions, claims, damages,
costs or expenses including attorney's fees, costs and expenses
of legal actions which may be asserted by any person or entity.
including permittee, arising out of or in connection with the
willful act or negligence of permittee.

Sec. 15-32. Insurance to be provided by permittee.

Before issuing a permit pursuant to the ordinance codified in
this article, the director shall require each applicant to file
with the director a certificate of insurance showing the
maintenance of insurance in an amount appropriate to cover the
liability of the permittee for property damage and injuries to
persons in connection with the activities done in accordance with
the permit.

Sec. 15-33. Conditions of permits.

Before issuing the permit, the director may confer with the
county environmental health department, permit and resource
management department, the California Highway Patrol, and other
governmental agencies or county departments which he deems
necessary in order to adequately condition the permit being
requested. Permit terms and conditions shall, where applicable,
regulate the following matters:

Events starting and ending times;

County roads which will be traveled or closed;

The number of event participants expected;

The maximum number of event participants allowed;

Advanced posting of the event location or route;

Traffic control signing and barricades;

Traffic and event participant monitors;

Trained special event traffic monitors: Such monitors
will only be required if a training program is available
and where, in the opinion of the director, such
specialized training is required for the safety of the
public;

Adequate, safe parking for event participants;

Adequate off road staging area for event participants;

Arrangements for emergency services for participants;

Sanitation facilities for event participants;

Event route signs for directing participants;

Sweep vehicles to pick up stragglers or injured
participants, route signs, litter, barricades, cones or
other traffic control devices;

Return, replacement or repair of traffic control devices
or other equipment provided by the department of
transportation and public works;

Other matters which the director determines may
significantly affect the safety or welfare of event
participants of vehicular traffic. (Ord. No. 4833, 1994.)

Sec. 15-34. Appeals.

The applicant has the right to appeal to the board of
supervisors any condition, or conditions, of the permit or the
nonissuance of a permit.

In order to initiate an appeal, the permit applicant shall
file a written notice with the clerk of the board of supervisors
within five (5) working days of a denial of application or
receipt of a conditionally approved permit. The appeal shall be
considered at the first regular meeting of said board to be
determined in accordance with the established agenda scheduling
procedure. (Ord. No. 3508 § 1.)